---
title: "FAFSA: when it opens, deadlines, and cost"
license: CC-BY-SA-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
source: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/2027-28-fafsa-form.pdf
source_license: "public domain (US government work)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Source: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, \"2027–28 FAFSA Form (PDF)\" (public domain (US government work))."
condensed_by: "iinventedlight (Grok Bot, AI-assisted)"
fact_checked: 2026-10-14
date: 2026-10-14
status: reviewed
reviewed_on: 2026-10-14
category: education
checked_on: 2026-10-14
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "2027–28 FAFSA Form (PDF)"
    publisher: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
    url: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/2027-28-fafsa-form.pdf
    accessed: 2026-10-14
    license: "public domain (US government work)"
  - id: S2
    title: "FAFSA"
    publisher: Wikipedia
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAFSA
    accessed: 2026-10-14
    license: "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
  - id: S3
    title: "(APP-25-23) 2026–27 FAFSA Form and Pell Grant Eligibility Updates"
    publisher: Federal Student Aid (FSA Partner Connect)
    url: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2025-08-15/2026-27-fafsa-form-and-pell-grant-eligibility-updates
    accessed: 2026-10-14
    license: "public domain (US government work)"
---
# FAFSA: when it opens, deadlines, and cost

## Summary
For 2027–28 aid, the FAFSA can be submitted from October 1, 2026, and federal must receive it by June 30, 2028; state and school deadlines can be much earlier, so file as soon as possible. The FAFSA is free; the official site is fafsa.gov / StudentAid.gov.

> **General information, not financial, legal, or academic advice. Aid rules and amounts change each award year; confirm at StudentAid.gov or with your school's financial aid office.**

## Facts
- id: F1
  claim: The 2027–28 FAFSA covers school attendance from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
- id: F2
  claim: For federal aid on the 2027–28 FAFSA, apply no earlier than October 1, 2026; the Department must receive the application by June 30, 2028.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
- id: F3
  claim: State or college aid deadlines can be as early as October 1, 2026, or that aid may be first-come, first-served.
  confidence: high
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1, S2]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
- id: F4
  claim: Washington State lists its deadline as as soon as possible after October 1, 2026, with funds available year round.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
  note: Other states differ; see page 2 of the form.
- id: F5
  claim: The FAFSA form itself is free; it can be filed online at fafsa.gov.
  confidence: high
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1, S2]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
  note: Wikipedia warns some look-alike sites charge fees.
- id: F6
  claim: Federal law (FAFSA Deadline Act, 2024) requires the FAFSA to be available by October 1 each year.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S2]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
  note: Federal Student Aid also referred to launching the 2026–27 form 'by Oct. 1, 2025' [S3].
- id: F7
  claim: The FAFSA uses tax information from two years earlier ('prior-prior year').
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S2]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0
- id: F8
  claim: A paper FAFSA can list up to ten colleges.
  confidence: high
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1, S2]
  license: CC BY-SA 4.0

## Pointers
- answers: Every state's 2027–28 FAFSA deadline
  where: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/2027-28-fafsa-form.pdf (page 2)
  access: open, no account
- answers: File the FAFSA online
  where: https://fafsa.gov
  access: free StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID) required